Fears over race-day drunks at York supermarket
Plans for a mini-supermarket to sell alcohol on race days have been criticised by neighbours – who fear people attending events at the racecourse will buy drinks at the shop and cause trouble.
The Co-Op shop in Hallmark House at The Chocolate Works has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week.
Residents at the development say they do not mind the shop selling alcohol – but are worried about it being sold on race days and leading to anti social behaviour.
Some have requested that when events are on at the racecourse, alcohol should only be allowed for sale after 7pm.
Neighbours wrote to the council to raise concerns about the shop selling alcohol all day on race days, with one writing that they had witnessed people using an area of The Chocolate Works development as a toilet in the past.
Another said residents have been “confronted by drunken groups of people on race days”in the past.
Police drop objections
One neighbour wrote: “I do have severe misgivings about the potential public nuisance and threat to public safety posed by sales on days when there are events at York Racecourse.
“Our area already suffers the effects of drunken and anti social behaviour on these days, and the ready availability of alcohol on the route to and from the racecourse can only add to the problems which include public urinating, vomiting, shouting and swearing as well as littering.”
Another said: “As a resident of the Chocolate Works housing development, my experience is that some visitors consume more alcohol than they should, and their behaviour suffers as a result.
“We have had instances of drunken people using our housing development as a toilet and we fear that the Co-Op could become an attractive place for them to gather and consume alcohol.”
But the owners of the Co-Op say they have given thought to the potential impact of the licence and will install CCTV, a proof of age scheme, an incident log and alarm system at the shop – conditions which have all been requested by North Yorkshire Police.
Following the agreement of these conditions, police have withdrawn their representations.
Twenty-six people wrote to the council about the application for the licence.
Residents have welcomed the opening of the Co-Op shop and one wrote that it is a “minority of attendees” that cause them concern.
One neighbour wrote: “I wish to confirm my full support for the new store as it is very much required for the convenience of local residents.”
The meeting takes place on Monday at 5.30pm. Co-Op has been contacted for a comment.